Letter to the Editor: Self defense laws

Arkansas citizens should call the governor’s office and ask the governor why it is that under our current laws, the criminal has more rights than the law-abiding citizen!

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By Tommy Strabala

Stuttgart Daily Leader - Stuttgart, AR

By Tommy Strabala

Posted Sep. 17, 2013 at 3:19 PM

By Tommy Strabala

Posted Sep. 17, 2013 at 3:19 PM

STUTTGART

A Little Rock police officer was sent to stop criminals from breaking into cars. Upon arriving on the scene, the criminals attempted to kill the officer by running him over with their get-away car. The officer, acting in self defense, fired on the oncoming vehicle. Now, prosecutors are trying to make a criminal of the officer.

Present Arkansas self defense laws are making this action a criminal case against this officer. Isn’t it ironic that these same laws are the laws that our present Gov. Mike Beebe says are “fine self defense laws” and goes on further to say that Arkansas does not need a stand your ground law. Maybe Gov. Beebe should explain how those fine laws protect our men in blue from the criminals they are supposed to stop!

Arkansas citizens should call the governor’s office and ask the governor why it is that under our current laws, the criminal has more rights than the law-abiding citizen! Better yet, why is a prosecutor treating our law officer as a criminal for protecting himself from a criminal in self defense?

A so-called law professor, Felecia Epps, has stated that stand your ground laws promote violence. However, when you look at the statistics that does not even come close to the truth. If these laws promote violence, why have none of the 34 states that have them never repealed the stand your ground law?

Republican attorney general candidate David Sterling has said that he would propose a stand your ground law for Arkansas once elected next year. Arkansas is the only state in the South that does not have a good self defense law. I hope more people will endorse and help David Sterling become the next attorney general in the state of Arkansas.